Shanghai

Diana and I took the train from Nanjing to Shanghai so we could catch our international flight to Tokyo. Not only did we get to experience a different Chinese city, but we also experienced the train system which is an experience in itself. Unless you speak Chinese it is impossible to buy a train ticket online or even in person, however, you can go through an English speaking company for a large fee. Luckily one of our international student friends offered to buy it for us. Chinese trains are safe and punctual, but very confusing. There are several trains to choose from with the fastest trains costing the most money. G, D & C are high speed trains and have business class, first class, second class seats and standing tickets to choose from. Z, T, K or number only trains are normal trains, some stop at more stations and take longer than others. Your seat options for these trains are standing, hard seats, soft seats, hard sleepers and soft sleepers. Because of our luggage we chose to take a K train and book a soft sleeper ticket. The train ticket was all in Chinese and we found no English speaking workers or people during our journey. All of the announcements were in Chinese, so when it reached the two hour point I would ask people in the hallway if we were at Shanghai or point to my ticket. Eventually we made it to Shanghai, and the journey was very comfortable in our soft sleeper beds. If you are interested in reading more about trains in China and seeing pictures of the different seats and trains you can go to this website: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/transportation/choose-china-train-types-and-seat.htm

Shanghai is the China’s biggest city with 24 million people and is a global financial hub. It is situated on the Yangtze River and serves as the most influential economic, financial, international trade, and cultural center in East China. Shanghai is a popular travel destination for visitors. I saw more foreigners in 1 hour in Shanghai than I saw in the entire month I was in Nanjing. The heart of Shanghai is the Bund, a famed waterfront promenade lined with colonial-era buildings. Other landmarks include the Pudong district’s futuristic skyline, including the Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Shanghai also has the beautiful Yu Garden with traditional pavilions, towers and ponds. I loved Shanghai, the city is modern and traditional at the same time with beautiful architecture and a multicultural flair. It felt glamorous, but distinctly Chinese, a perfect blend of cultures, the modern and the traditional, and the western and the oriental. New skyscrapers and old Shikumen (a traditional Shanghainese architectural style combining Western and Chinese elements) together create the skyline of the city. I highly recommend visiting Shanghai if you make your way to China. Scroll down to see some photos from our time in Shanghai.

— Bridget